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Arch Hall Jr., Helen Hovey, Richard Alden, Marilyn Manning, Don Russell

If you want to truly be scared out of your socks, we strongly recommend the hellishly horrific low-budgeter Profile of Terror. Arch Hall Jr., heretofore the colorless star of such cheapies as Wild Gui... read more read more...tar and Eegah!, is disturbingly convincing as a sadistic thrill killer. When three schoolteachers (Richard Alden, Marilyn Manning and Don Russell), en route to an LA Dodgers game, pull up at a deserted gas station, they are held captive by Hall and his wacko girlfriend Helen Hovey. Harboring a psychotic hatred of teachers, Hall gleefully torments his prisoners, killing Russell while the latter is on his knees, begging for his life. Every time we think that this film can't get any more agonizing, the insanely giggling Hall pulls off yet another outrage. By the time Hall faces his well-deserved demise, you'll be hard pressed not to jump out of your chair and scream "Get him! GET HIM!!!" Stunningly photographed by Vilmos Zsigmond, Profile of Terror may well be the greatest exploitation flick ever made (and we're taking into consideration Night of the Living Dead). The film is better known by its original title, The Sadist. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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1,122 ratings

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100% liked it

5 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: James Landis

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DVD Release Date: January 21, 2003

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Flixster Reviews (89)

  • 366weirdmovies
    March 27, 2011
    366weirdmovies
    Three schoolteachers are held hostage in a junkyard by a serial killer (based on Charles Starkweather). B-movie gem that alchemizes a greasy, over-the-top performance by failed teen idol Arch Hall, Jr. with a taut and tawdry script to produce masterful suspense.
  • Stinger839
    February 6, 2009
    Stinger839
    Second time watching this. First time was on Rob Zombie hosted TCM Underground but I was too stoned to remember the whole thing. Second time is right now on RealPlayer SuperPass (and I'm sure a few other streaming services offer it too).

    And for my "Went Down the Wrong Road" Bac... read morekwoods horror list, I HAVE found a flick predating Lewis' Two Thousand Maniacs.

    The title credits creep me out but maybe because I have a thing about eyes and their ability to scare.

    "We don't like school teachers. Do we, Judy?" from this line on you know there will be some sadistic shit going down besides a simple carjacking.

    I do think the "Big Man" was being a coward, as both the Sadist and hostage girl accuse. And then he keeps being "yellow" during the gun "game".

    The ending sequence is a bit long and stretched out which affects its tension.

    Arch Hall Jr.'s performance and the shooting style are the highlights of this film. The shot setup is really thoughtful and the best is early in the movie, where the perspective makes it feel like we the audience are holding the gun and seeing from Sadist Johnny's viewpoint.
  • patrickdol
    August 12, 2008
    patrickdol
    This is the earliest film I've seen that very much resembles the horror subgenre that Last House of the Left, and definitely possesses the rawness and brutality that the best of those films have as well.
  • wolverineland
    June 11, 2007
    wolverineland
    What do you get when you cross Neville "D.O.A." Brand with a Cabbage Patch Doll? You get Arch Hall Jr. chewing up the scenery in this low budget precursor to "Badlands". The rest of the cast is forgettable but if you like campy Arch Hall Jr. films like I do, then this movie is ri... read moreght up your alley.
  • charliebrownforever
    April 24, 2007
    charliebrownforever
    Surprisingly good performance from Arch Hall Jr elevates this shoestring budget shocker about a disturbed teenager's bloody killing spree.

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Critic Reviews

Felix Vasquez Jr.
July 29, 2007
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat

This vehicle is a tense and rather creepy little thriller...

Dennis Schwartz
November 25, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The Sadist gets a lot of bang for its dollar. Full Review

Shane Burridge
September 17, 2004
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

The key to its success is the decision ... to take time out from Junior's grooming as a movie matinee idol and cast him as a sniveling creep

Jonathan R. Perry
April 26, 2005
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

No review available.

Matt McAllister
January 1, 1800
Matt McAllister, Future Movies UK

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Sadist Trivia

  • George Higgins loved his profession. He was a masked sadist in adult films, known as Machine. Seven years earlier, George brutally murdered a teenager named Mary Ann Mathews. He committed the crime on film for a wealthy man named Mr. Christian. What was this film called?  Answer »
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